640
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1821
EPITHALAMIUM
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING
[Published by Medwin, Life of Shelley, 1847.]
Night, with all thine eyes look down!
Darkness shed its holiest dew!
When ever smiled the inconstant moon
On a pair so true?
Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, 5
Lest eyes see their own delight!
Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight
Oft renew.
Darkness shed its holiest dew!
When ever smiled the inconstant moon
On a pair so true?
Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, 5
Lest eyes see their own delight!
Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight
Oft renew.
Boys.
O joy! O fear! what may be done
In the absence of the sun? 10
Come along!
The golden gates of sleep unbar!
When strength and beauty meet together,
Kindles their image like a star
In a sea of glassy weather. 15
Hence, coy hour I and quench thy light,
Lest[1] eyes see their own delight!
Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight
Oft renew.
O joy! O fear! what may be done
In the absence of the sun? 10
Come along!
The golden gates of sleep unbar!
When strength and beauty meet together,
Kindles their image like a star
In a sea of glassy weather. 15
Hence, coy hour I and quench thy light,
Lest[1] eyes see their own delight!
Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight
Oft renew.
Girls.
O joy! O fear! what may be done 20
In the absence of the sun?
Come along!
Fairies! sprites! and angels, keep her!
Holiest powers, permit no wrong!
And return, to wake the sleeper, 25
Dawn, ere it be long.
Hence, swift hour! and quench thy light,
Lest eyes see their own delight!
Hence, coy hour! and thy loved flight
Oft renew. 30
O joy! O fear! what may be done 20
In the absence of the sun?
Come along!
Fairies! sprites! and angels, keep her!
Holiest powers, permit no wrong!
And return, to wake the sleeper, 25
Dawn, ere it be long.
Hence, swift hour! and quench thy light,
Lest eyes see their own delight!
Hence, coy hour! and thy loved flight
Oft renew. 30
Boys and Girls.
O joy! O fear! what will be done
In the absence of the sun?
Come along!
O joy! O fear! what will be done
In the absence of the sun?
Come along!
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME
[Published by Rossetti, Complete P. W. of P. B. S., 1870, from the Trelawny MS. of Edward Williams's play, The Promise: or, A Year, a Month, and a Day.]
Boys Sing.
Night! with all thine eyes look down!
Darkness! weep thy holiest dew!
Never smiled the inconstant moon
On a pair so true.
Haste, coy hour! and quench all light, 5
Lest eyes see their own delight!
Haste, swift hour! and thy loved flight
Oft renew!
Night! with all thine eyes look down!
Darkness! weep thy holiest dew!
Never smiled the inconstant moon
On a pair so true.
Haste, coy hour! and quench all light, 5
Lest eyes see their own delight!
Haste, swift hour! and thy loved flight
Oft renew!
Girls Sing.
Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her!
Holy stars! permit no wrong! 10
And return, to wake the sleeper,
Dawn, ere it be long!
O joy! O fear! there is not one
Of us can guess what may be done
In the absence of the sun:— 15
Come along!
Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her!
Holy stars! permit no wrong! 10
And return, to wake the sleeper,
Dawn, ere it be long!
O joy! O fear! there is not one
Of us can guess what may be done
In the absence of the sun:— 15
Come along!
Boys.
Oh! linger long thou envious eastern lamp
In the damp
Caves of the deep!
Oh! linger long thou envious eastern lamp
In the damp
Caves of the deep!
Girls.
Nay, return, Vesper! urge thy lazy car! 20
Swift unbar
The gates of Sleep!
Nay, return, Vesper! urge thy lazy car! 20
Swift unbar
The gates of Sleep!
- ↑ Epithalamium—17 Lest] Let 1847.
